Paisley, the Director Gyal

Paisley Sutton (she/her) is a director and producer from the westside of Detroit whose work is guided by ancestral memory, cultural preservation, and storytelling as a tool for collective healing. 

She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, where she directed the award-winning short documentary Descendants–a film that tells her story as she travels to England to confront the descendant of the man who enslaved her family in Barbados. Paisley’s work post-graduation includes producing digital campaigns for brands like Hulu and National Geographic, as well as co-writing the Grammy-nominated music video "Lockdown" by Anderson.Paak.

In 2021, Paisley moved back to Detroit to co-found WINNIE MEDIA with her mother, Patrice Cheesman. Winnie Media is a production company named after Paisley’s great-grandmother and Patrice’s grandmother, Winnifred Cheesman, who immigrated to Detroit from Barbados. The mission of the company is to expand access and authorship for underrepresented creative voices, especially in Detroit. Paisley serves as Winnie Media’s Creative Director and works with local brands and artists to help bring their visions to life through music videos, commercials, photos, and social media content.